Where to get eyes tested and buy glasses?

[mja1906]

Any suggestions for where to get my eyes tested? I think I need glasses for driving, so wanted to have my sight checked out. There's heaps of those 'Top Charoen' shops, would it be wise to go to one of those? I once went to an eye-glass shop in BKK, and I think she tested me wrong, and I ended up buying glasses that were too strong for me and too tight!

[Beetlejuice]

The Vision Centre, don`t waste your time going anywhere else. As far as I am concern the Vision Centre is the only optician in Chiang Mai.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/593652-vision-centre/

http://livingoutsideofthebox.com/2013/06/19/buying-eyeglasses-in-chiang-mai-thailand/

The guy is a fully qualified optician, speaks perfect English, has been in the business for over 30 years and he also checks the eyes for diseases

Go anywhere else and you`re be sooorrrry.

[beau thai]

I rate Tokyo Optics and I am suspicious of Top Charoen's sales driven approach.

[narkeddiver]

I don't rate TC either - I got my eyes tested there and they were out out by a whole number on the prescription - they came up with -4.5 instead of -3.5 in one eye - enough to give me a headache - my uk optician wasn't impressed

[lexilis]

Another strong recommendation for The Vision Center. Very professional and first-rate service. I am not sure if they are more expensive than these chain places but I really don't care. For something like that expert consultation and service is worth it. The Vision Center, just down the street (on the same side) from the UN Irish Pub on... whatever that road is.

[northernjohn]

Another strong recommendation for The Vision Center. Very professional and first-rate service. I am not sure if they are more expensive than these chain places but I really don't care. For something like that expert consultation and service is worth it. The Vision Center, just down the street (on the same side) from the UN Irish Pub on... whatever that road is.

I second that. It is in between the UN Irish pub and the moat.

The last time I went in I was concerned about my walk around vision. It was still good but I knew it had been better. He checked my eyes and said it would be a waste of money for me at that point. That was several years ago. I just had a complete check up at the hospital across from the Holiday Inn and they said defiantly need them now for walking around.

Will be heading back to vision center for a pair. Also take my reading glasses as he will check them and let me know if they are worth changing.

I took the wife there a while back she wanted one pair for every thing. He said he could but she would do better with a pair for reading and one for walking around. The price was cheaper on two pair than the one. So he could have made more money off me but was honest about it.

[naboo]

I went to TC, was 0.0 and -0.5, they told me I needed glasses.

Wong Wen are my recommendation, proper examination, Google Maps 18.792897, 98.997338

[Dante99]

Tokyo Optics at Airport Plaza

[albanasia]

St Peter eyes hospital on the highway before Lotus Kamthieng.

Envoyé de mon iPhone à l'aide de Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[JLT]

Chiang Mai Vision Care is excellent for accurate eye tests and prescriptions, quality lenses and frames all delivered within a very reasonable timescale. Their proces are good and the after-sales service is second-to-none.

Speak to the owner (Fa) and he will look after all of your needs.

Chiang Mai Vision Care is at the end of Moon Mung (bears round to the left past Rider's Corner) and about 300 metres further on the left. Difficult to miss with a large, bright green shop front.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chiangmai-Vision-Care/397238953721048

Edited June 24, 2014 by JLT

[Sparkles]

Tokyo Optics at Airport Plaza

Over priced and dodgy diagnosis/prescription from my experience there 3 years ago. Of course they would be paying huge rents as would anyone in a shopping mall.

True Vision Centre, if you took a poll, would win hands down.The guy is a total professional and took great care over the prescription also went out of his way to provide new lenses to fit my old frames which were still in good condition. Parking is at rear of a very big,fully stocked shop.

[Genericnic]

Just a note on Vision Center. He doesn't seem to handle extreme prescriptions. My prescription for glasses is -10.5 (OS) and -9.5 (OD). He checked them on his machine and told me he wasn't able to handle it for me. I wish he had been able. I was generally impressed with him and his shop.

David

[chiang mai]

Vision Centre, there is no other sensible option in terms of quality or price.

[Thighlander]

Do it in two different steps, and you will save $$ and get better diagnosis. Go to an Ophthalmologist for the exam.....there is a huge difference in an Optometrist and an Ophthalmologist. Then take your prescription with you, and go online to www.zennioptical.com They ship Worldwide...You could likely get a nice pair delivered to your door for less than 1000 THB. Clip on shades are available, as is tinting. I would buy one pair with clip on, and one pair of tinted at 50%...shipping is the same. Zenni has millions of customers. There are great eye doctors in Chiang Mai....a few too many eyeglass franchises.

[Thighlander]

Just a note on Vision Center. He doesn't seem to handle extreme prescriptions. My prescription for glasses is -10.5 (OS) and -9.5 (OD). He checked them on his machine and told me he wasn't able to handle it for me. I wish he had been able. I was generally impressed with him and his shop.

David

Zenni can make yours. 6.95 usd for glasses, and 9 us extra for strength. I didn't have your cylinder or axis information so I used zero. Looks like they go up to -20.00.

[chiang mai]

If you need or want to see a well qualified Opthamologist:

Dr Rachada

Chiang Mai RAM Hospital

053 920300

...is my choice, get the script and see Vision Express for the lens/frames.

If you screw around with the high street/mall optical shops you'll get raped and your eyes will not thank you, your choice.

[Genericnic]

Just a note on Vision Center. He doesn't seem to handle extreme prescriptions. My prescription for glasses is -10.5 (OS) and -9.5 (OD). He checked them on his machine and told me he wasn't able to handle it for me. I wish he had been able. I was generally impressed with him and his shop.

David

Zenni can make yours. 6.95 usd for glasses, and 9 us extra for strength. I didn't have your cylinder or axis information so I used zero. Looks like they go up to -20.00.

Hi Thighlander

I just checked the site. I forgot to mention I wear bifocals and they only go up to -9.00 SPH on those. Close but not quite there. Thanks anyway for the information.

David

[Oscar2]

another plus for Vision Center. the owner is a true expert in his field, in fact he's brilliant. And a nice person too. no pressure to buy anything other than what YOU want/need.

[northernjohn]

The Vision Centre, don`t waste your time going anywhere else. As far as I am concern the Vision Centre is the only optician in Chiang Mai.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/593652-vision-centre/

http://livingoutsideofthebox.com/2013/06/19/buying-eyeglasses-in-chiang-mai-thailand/

The guy is a fully qualified optician, speaks perfect English, has been in the business for over 30 years and he also checks the eyes for diseases

Go anywhere else and you`re be sooorrrry.

Actually he recommended an eye specialist to me. He said he was not a doctor.

That is one of the things I like about him. He is honest.

That was a few years back. I don't think he has been to school since then.

By the way did I mention he is closed on Mondays. Or maybe some one else posted it

He is.

[northernjohn]

If you need or want to see a well qualified Opthamologist:

Dr Rachada

Chiang Mai RAM Hospital

053 920300

...is my choice, get the script and see Vision Express for the lens/frames.

If you screw around with the high street/mall optical shops you'll get raped and your eyes will not thank you, your choice.

I saw her and she said I had cataracts probably need surgery in three years. Not a word about the rest of my vision. That was in February I believe.

Went to the Hospital across from the Holiday Inn last week had my eyes checked he also checked for glaucoma tested my reading glasses which I had with me. Said I should get a better pair which I have I keep them at home. Also gave me a prescription for walking around general purpose glasses which I knew I was in need of. Told me I had stage one cataracts and not ready for surgery yet.

I forgot to ask him what stage 1 meant.

Any how later this week both myself and the wife who he says needs a stronger lens in her left eye will be heading down to the vision center. As I said in earlier posts He is an honest man. I guess I could send away for them but will they service them if I need them serviced. I know from past experience when the screw came out of the frame they replaced right now. Also they adjusted the frames to fit my profile.

[Thighlander]

when the screw comes out; you walk into one of the 100 empty eyeglass stores in CNX, and they will put a new one in for you for 20 thb. My mom was seeing "Halos." I drove her to cataract surgery last Summer.

[beau thai]

If you need or want to see a well qualified Opthamologist:

Dr Rachada

Chiang Mai RAM Hospital

053 920300

...is my choice, get the script and see Vision Express for the lens/frames.

If you screw around with the high street/mall optical shops you'll get raped and your eyes will not thank you, your choice.

I saw her and she said I had cataracts probably need surgery in three years. Not a word about the rest of my vision. That was in February I believe.

Went to the Hospital across from the Holiday Inn last week had my eyes checked he also checked for glaucoma tested my reading glasses which I had with me. Said I should get a better pair which I have I keep them at home. Also gave me a prescription for walking around general purpose glasses which I knew I was in need of. Told me I had stage one cataracts and not ready for surgery yet.

I forgot to ask him what stage 1 meant.

Any how later this week both myself and the wife who he says needs a stronger lens in her left eye will be heading down to the vision center. As I said in earlier posts He is an honest man. I guess I could send away for them but will they service them if I need them serviced. I know from past experience when the screw came out of the frame they replaced right now. Also they adjusted the frames to fit my profile.

'Also they adjusted the frames to fit my profile'- normal optician job otherwise they dont fit!! And although they make them comfortable in the store, in every day use they often slip down the nose, so need re-adjusting, often several times. I have never heard of an optician charging for that after- sales service... Certainly Tokyo Optic dont here, and neither have any opticians I have used over the years in different countries.

[CMNightRider]

I have done business with two of the mentioned optical shops in Chiang Mai. I knew I was getting stiffed (charged too much) but didn't realize how bad until I purchased two pairs of prescription eye glasses from Sawang Optical, located on Nimanheamin across from Soi 1. These people are professional and will give you the best price on designer (not knock offs) frames. Get a price from any of the other optical shops, and ask Swang Optical, what they will charge for the same eye glasses.

[Genericnic]

If you need or want to see a well qualified Opthamologist:

Dr Rachada

Chiang Mai RAM Hospital

053 920300

...is my choice, get the script and see Vision Express for the lens/frames.

If you screw around with the high street/mall optical shops you'll get raped and your eyes will not thank you, your choice.

I saw her and she said I had cataracts probably need surgery in three years. Not a word about the rest of my vision. That was in February I believe.

Went to the Hospital across from the Holiday Inn last week had my eyes checked he also checked for glaucoma tested my reading glasses which I had with me. Said I should get a better pair which I have I keep them at home. Also gave me a prescription for walking around general purpose glasses which I knew I was in need of. Told me I had stage one cataracts and not ready for surgery yet.

I forgot to ask him what stage 1 meant.

Any how later this week both myself and the wife who he says needs a stronger lens in her left eye will be heading down to the vision center. As I said in earlier posts He is an honest man. I guess I could send away for them but will they service them if I need them serviced. I know from past experience when the screw came out of the frame they replaced right now. Also they adjusted the frames to fit my profile.

northernjohn,

Do you know the name of the doc at the hospital across from the Holiday Inn?

David

[northernjohn]

If you need or want to see a well qualified Opthamologist:

Dr Rachada

Chiang Mai RAM Hospital

053 920300

...is my choice, get the script and see Vision Express for the lens/frames.

If you screw around with the high street/mall optical shops you'll get raped and your eyes will not thank you, your choice.

I saw her and she said I had cataracts probably need surgery in three years. Not a word about the rest of my vision. That was in February I believe.

Went to the Hospital across from the Holiday Inn last week had my eyes checked he also checked for glaucoma tested my reading glasses which I had with me. Said I should get a better pair which I have I keep them at home. Also gave me a prescription for walking around general purpose glasses which I knew I was in need of. Told me I had stage one cataracts and not ready for surgery yet.

I forgot to ask him what stage 1 meant.

Any how later this week both myself and the wife who he says needs a stronger lens in her left eye will be heading down to the vision center. As I said in earlier posts He is an honest man. I guess I could send away for them but will they service them if I need them serviced. I know from past experience when the screw came out of the frame they replaced right now. Also they adjusted the frames to fit my profile.

'Also they adjusted the frames to fit my profile'- normal optician job otherwise they dont fit!! And although they make them comfortable in the store, in every day use they often slip down the nose, so need re-adjusting, often several times. I have never heard of an optician charging for that after- sales service... Certainly Tokyo Optic dont here, and neither have any opticians I have used over the years in different countries.

That comment was directed at the mail order glasses.

Edited June 25, 2014 by northernjohn

[chiang mai]

If you need or want to see a well qualified Opthamologist:

Dr Rachada

Chiang Mai RAM Hospital

053 920300

...is my choice, get the script and see Vision Express for the lens/frames.

If you screw around with the high street/mall optical shops you'll get raped and your eyes will not thank you, your choice.

I saw her and she said I had cataracts probably need surgery in three years. Not a word about the rest of my vision. That was in February I believe.

Went to the Hospital across from the Holiday Inn last week had my eyes checked he also checked for glaucoma tested my reading glasses which I had with me. Said I should get a better pair which I have I keep them at home. Also gave me a prescription for walking around general purpose glasses which I knew I was in need of. Told me I had stage one cataracts and not ready for surgery yet.

I forgot to ask him what stage 1 meant.

Any how later this week both myself and the wife who he says needs a stronger lens in her left eye will be heading down to the vision center. As I said in earlier posts He is an honest man. I guess I could send away for them but will they service them if I need them serviced. I know from past experience when the screw came out of the frame they replaced right now. Also they adjusted the frames to fit my profile.

northernjohn,

Do you know the name of the doc at the hospital across from the Holiday Inn?

David

The hospital is called Rajavej, choices for ophthalmologists will be listed on the pinned list of medical staff in the Chiang Mai forum.

[northernjohn]

If you need or want to see a well qualified Opthamologist:

Dr Rachada

Chiang Mai RAM Hospital

053 920300

...is my choice, get the script and see Vision Express for the lens/frames.

If you screw around with the high street/mall optical shops you'll get raped and your eyes will not thank you, your choice.

I saw her and she said I had cataracts probably need surgery in three years. Not a word about the rest of my vision. That was in February I believe.

Went to the Hospital across from the Holiday Inn last week had my eyes checked he also checked for glaucoma tested my reading glasses which I had with me. Said I should get a better pair which I have I keep them at home. Also gave me a prescription for walking around general purpose glasses which I knew I was in need of. Told me I had stage one cataracts and not ready for surgery yet.

I forgot to ask him what stage 1 meant.

Any how later this week both myself and the wife who he says needs a stronger lens in her left eye will be heading down to the vision center. As I said in earlier posts He is an honest man. I guess I could send away for them but will they service them if I need them serviced. I know from past experience when the screw came out of the frame they replaced right now. Also they adjusted the frames to fit my profile.

northernjohn,

Do you know the name of the doc at the hospital across from the Holiday Inn?

David

Sorry no I don't I just went in and said I wanted to see an eye doctor. About a 45 minute wait. As I said not only did he check my eyes for a prescription but also glaucoma. He spoke reasonably good English and I had no problem understanding him. If you go have your glasses with you and he will check them. Reading glasses that is as I am sure you would have regular ones. I did not have mine. I have two pair of prescription at home I have had for years. Will be taking them to vision center when I get my walk around glasses.

[mesquite]

Vision Center, yes.

I just went in there as I was having trouble seeing with the progressive lens glasses I'd purchased there a few years ago. Figured I needed a new prescription. The dr gave me an eye exam and said the prescription was still good. He then took my glasses, cleaned them and straightened them, and put them on me. Lo and behold I could see quite well. So no glasses needed. Cost for his exam, and cleaning and straightening? Zero.

Yes, he is honest, and the only one I will ever go to here in CM.

[chiang mai]

My experience was exactly the same, it took two visits before I managed to persuade him to sell me new prescription varifocal sunglasses, I left the choice of lens up to him and was slightly nervous at what the bill might be. The total cost was THB12k and the lens are better than the Essilor 360 I paid 24K for six years ago. He's a rare find.

[Thighlander]

Just a note on Vision Center. He doesn't seem to handle extreme prescriptions. My prescription for glasses is -10.5 (OS) and -9.5 (OD). He checked them on his machine and told me he wasn't able to handle it for me. I wish he had been able. I was generally impressed with him and his shop.

David

Zenni can make yours. 6.95 usd for glasses, and 9 us extra for strength. I didn't have your cylinder or axis information so I used zero. Looks like they go up to -20.00.

Hi Thighlander

I just checked the site. I forgot to mention I wear bifocals and they only go up to -9.00 SPH on those. Close but not quite there. Thanks anyway for the information.

David

You can get them at www.eyeglassdirect.com bifocals with sphere up to 12ish. Global shipping usps is 14.95. Less than 150 usd total. 30 days unconditional return...free return shipping...

https://www.eyeglassdirect.com/eyecart.asp

Edited June 25, 2014 by Thighlander